Kohlberg’s Theory of
Moral Development
Moral Development

Moral development
is the gradual
development of an
individuals concept of
right or wrong –
conscious, religious
values, social attitudes
and certain behaviour.
Moral Dilemmas

Social issues with 2+ solutions
Complete the Robin Hood Moral Dilemma:
Kohlberg's theory

This theory is a stage theory. In other words, everyone goes through
the stages sequentially without skipping any stage.

However, movement through these stages are not natural, that is
people do not automatically move from one stage to the next as they
mature. In stage development, movement occurs when a person
notices inadequacies in his or her present way of coping with a given
moral dilemma.

According to stage theory, people cannot understand moral reasoning
more than one stage ahead of their own. For example, a person in
Stage 1 can understand Stage 2 reasoning but nothing beyond that.
Kohlberg’s Six Stages
Pre-Conventional Moral Development
 Stage 1
 Stage 2
Conventional Moral Development
 Stage 3
 Stage 4
Post-Conventional Moral Development
 Stage 5
 Stage 6
Level 1: Preconventional Morality 0-9 years
Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment
Especially common in young children, but adults are capable of expressing this type of
reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute.
Obeys
rules in order to avoid punishment
Determines a sense of right and wrong by what is punished and what is not punished
Obeys superior authority and allows that authority to make the rules, especially if that
authority has the power to inflict pain
Is responsive to rules that will affect his/her physical well-being
Stage 2 – Naively egotistical
At this stage of moral development, children account for individual points of view and judge
actions based on how they serve individual needs. Reciprocity is possible, but only if it
serves one's own interests.
motivated by vengeance or “an eye for an eye” philosophy
Is self-absorbed while assuming that he/she is generous
Believes in equal sharing in that everyone gets the same, regardless of need
Believes that the end justifies the means
Will do a favor only to get a favor
Expects to be rewarded for every non-selfish deed he/she does
Is
Level 2: Conventional Morality 10-15 years
Stage 3 - "good boy-good girl" orientation,
This stage of moral development is focused on living up to social expectations
and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being "nice," and consideration
of how choices influence relationships.
Finds
peer approval very important
Feels that intensions are as important as deeds and expects others to accept
intentions or promises in place of deeds
Begins to put himself/herself in another’s shoes and think from another perspective
Stage 4 – Law and Social Order
At this stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a
whole when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by
following the rules, doing one’s duty, and respecting authority.
Is
a duty doer who believes in rigid rules that should not be changed
Respects authority and obeys it without question
Supports the rights of the majority without concern for those in the minority
Is part of about 80% of the population that does not progress past stage 4
Level 3: Postconventional Morality – 16+
Stage 5 - Legalistic Social Contract
At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions, and beliefs of
other people. Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of
the society should agree upon these standards.
Is
motivated by the belief in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people
Believes in consensus (everyone agrees), rather than in majority rule
Respects the rights of the minority especially the rights of the individual
Believes that change in the law is possible but only through the system
Stage 6 – Universal ethical Principles
Kolhberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon universal ethical principles
and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these internalized principles of
justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules.
Believes
that there are high moral principles than those represented by social rules and
customs
Is willing to accept the consequences for disobedience of the social rule he/she has rejected
Believes that the dignity of humanity is sacred and that all humans have value
The Heinz Dilemma:
A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors
thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had
recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten
times what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000
for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to
borrow the money, but he could only get together about $1,000 which is half of what it cost.
He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay
later. But the druggist said: "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it."
So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife.
What would you do?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Criticisms of Kohlberg's
Theory of Moral Development:

Does moral reasoning necessarily lead to moral behavior? Kohlberg's theory is
concerned with moral thinking, but there is a big difference between knowing
what we ought to do versus our actual actions.


Is justice the only aspect of moral reasoning we should consider? Critics have
pointed out that Kohlberg's theory of moral development overemphasizes the
concept as justice when making moral choices. Other factors such as
compassion, caring, and other interpersonal feelings may play an important
part in moral reasoning.


Does Kohlberg's theory overemphasize Western philosophy? Individualistic
cultures emphasize personal rights while collectivist cultures stress the
importance of society and community. Eastern cultures may have different
moral outlooks that Kohlberg's theory does not account for.
Watch the Heinz Dilemma
Name
Alex
Old Man
Little Boy
Lady
Lady 2
Shane
Stage of Development
Reasoning
Read Angie’s Wish in text

Complete LEARNING ACTIVITY 5.28
LEARNING ACTIVITY 5.31

For the following moral dilemma, describe a response
which might be given by someone in each of the first four
stages of Kohlberg's theory.

Jill goes shopping one day with her best friend, Sujatha.
Sujatha tries on a jumper and walks out of the shop
wearing it under her jacket. Jill is left to face the store's
security person who insists that Jill names Sujatha and
gives Sujatha's address. The manager of the store tells Jill
she will be in serious trouble if she does not disclose
Sujatha's name and address. What should Jill do?